'Fill up the ranks!': Extraordinary collection of morale-boosting WWI (tr)

Daily Mail ^ | Jan 07, 2018 | Alex Green

[Oshkalaboomboom]

An extraordinary collection of patriotic First World War recruitment posters have been unearthed after 100 years stashed under the stairs of a pensioner's Brighton home.

In total, 10 morale-boosting posters were found - all of which belonged to an elderly former airport worker now in her 90s.

The haul was discovered as part of a house clearance. The colourful posters had been stashed under the stairs of the woman's house for many decades

One carries a powerful image of a soldier stood in France reaching out his hand to a fellow Brit in civilian costume, urging him to 'come lad, slip across and help'.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Full title: Fill up the ranks!': Extraordinary collection of morale-boosting WWI propaganda posters go on sale after they were found under a pensioner's stairs

Military history buff ping. Lots of interesting pics at the link.

[dfwgator]

Stupid war that Britain (and the US for that matter) had no business being involved in.

[Fhios]

It was a transitional war. The time between men lined up 20 yards away and fired and mechanization, greatly improve rifles and artillery.

Our next WWIII will be another transitional war.

[garandgal]

I collect/sell WWI & WWII posters. A few years ago, found a stash of WWI posters up in NW Iowa...they had been in a closet for nearly 100 years! Many WWI posters are particularly beautiful; many of the noted illustration artists at the time were recruited to create them.

Have originals of these two hanging within 15' of me as we "speak." Note the "melting pot" theme of "Americans All"

[GreyHoundSailor]

Thanks for posting this - I’ve been collecting WWI and WWII posters for many years.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

You can bid on them, auction is Jan 12

Link to the auction

[niteowl77]

Many WWI posters are particularly beautiful; many of the noted illustration artists at the time were recruited to create them.

The American posters were often quite lovely, though the female form was relied on to the point of ludicrousness. The German ones (by Hohlwein, Bernhard, Engelhard, Gipkens, Erdt...) were usually more striking. Despite their great gift for influencing public opinion during the war, British posters were generally a dull lot.

[iowamark]

[Enterprise]

America has gone from the melting pot to America smoking pot.

[GreyHoundSailor]

In 1992 I was in Monterey, CA at a Navy school and came across a collection of nearly 100 WWII posters at a little antique shop in Pacific Grove. Nearly every OWI poster was there and the only duplicates were Rockwell’s Four Freedoms.
Still have them all, as I had to promise never to break up the collection, which I never will.

[SunkenCiv]

While rummaging around in my late grandmother's music cabinet, I found WWI-era pacifist sheet music.

[SunkenCiv]

Soldier diaries tell of ghosts intervening in First World War: Canadian historian
Archival research by Canadian historian Tim Cook has found First World War diaries are more rife with supernatural encounters than one would expect
http://nationalpost.com/news/soldier-diaries-tell-of-ghosts-intervening-in-first-world-war-canadian-historian